Program

Courses and accommodation

Late arrivals/early departures

You are expected to arrive and leave on the date set by the educational institution. Late arrivals and early departures are not permitted.

Classes

A typical day consists of a minimum of three hours of class time, two hours of workshops, and one hour of sociocultural activities. A language pre-test will be administered either on-line before you begin the course or at the beginning of the course to determine your proficiency level and assign you to the right group. A post-test will be administered at the end of the course to assess your progress. Your full participation is expected. An example of a typical schedule can be found here.

Credits

All participating institutions provide participants with an official certificate. Recognition of your credits depends on the educational institution that you attend in the academic year following your participation in the program. You should approach that institution directly to ask about credits.

Supplies to bring with you

All learning materials are supplied by the educational institution. However, you must provide your own supplies, such as pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, and paper. Having a French/English dictionary at your disposal for the length of your immersion stay is recommended. Your host institution will give you a list of supplies to bring with you.

Daily schedule

Each program offers its own activities and workshops. Some programs focus on themes, such as radio/communications, drama, outdoor activities, off-campus tours, and visits to major cultural landmarks. Your daily schedule will be intensive, with many structured activities on evenings and weekends, so prepare to be busy and totally immersed for your entire stay. An example of a typical schedule can be found here.

Accommodation

Some institutions offer only home-stays, some offer student residences only, and some offer both. You can’t change accommodation during the session. There will be rules and guidelines to follow no matter which type of accommodation you are assigned; no matter where you are staying, respect for your peers, for your host family, and for property is expected from you at all times. Participants who fail to comply with the institution’s rules may be asked to leave the program.

Target-language policy

Each participating Explore educational institution has a policy about using the target language. These CMEC-approved policies are provided to students in writing prior to the start of the course. Students who fail to comply with these rules may be asked to leave the program.

Kids Help Phone

If you find yourself in need of help during the Explore program (or at any other time), Kids Help Phone is a great resource.